A Study On The Succession And Adoption In The Northern Dynasties

"Adoption For Inheritance"and adoption are closely related,but there are differences,"Adoption For Inheritance"mainly refers to the purpose of succession,and applies to the same paternal relatives of the male adoption."Adoption",on the other hand,refers to the act of passing off another person’s child as one’s own,,without restrictions on gender and purpose."Adoption For Inheritance"and adoption are both ways of establishing fictitious kinship."Adoption For Inheritance"in the Northern Dynasties was influenced by the concept of ancestral inheritance,or it was due to the need for inheritance of titles;and there were three main reasons for adoption in the Northern Dynasties,one was to raise orphans and children,and the other was to provide for the elderly,the third is the combination of cause and benefit.According to the time when the behavior occurred,the"Adoption For Inheritance"in the Northern Dynasties was mainly divided into two categories:the"Adoption For Inheritance"of the stepfather during his lifetime and the adoption after his death.Each category includes specific types;Adoption,nominal adoption,and eunuch adoption divided by adopting subject,there are three specific types.Once the adoption and adoption take place,there will be a relationship of rights and obligations between the subject and the object.The rights and obligations involved in adoptive sons are the most complete.In terms of rights,they include the right to inherit the clan,the title,the title of the general(before the 16th year of Taihe(太和)in the Northern Wei Dynasty)and the right to inherit property;Death and mourning.Secondly,since the adoptive son is not completely separated from the biological parents,the adoptive son needs to take care of the biological parents,degrade the original parents,and provide financial relief to members of the natural family when necessary.Finally,the succession of the adoptive son also involves changes in legal responsibilities in terms of fate.Different types of adopted sons have different rights and obligations.In terms of rights,the adoption of eunuchs is a typical example.Some adopted sons enjoy the right to inherit the title and property,and can obtain the privilege of becoming an official by virtue of the power of the adoptive father.In terms of obligations,adoptive adoption is a typical example.The adopted son needs to fulfill the obligation of filial piety to the adoptive parents,and the adopted son also involves changes in legal responsibilities in terms of fate.Nominal adoption is not embedded in the family,so it does not involve rights and obligations.Finally,"Adoption For Inheritance"is helpful for the continuation of blood and political status of the stepfather and his adoptive family,while adoption mainly affects the personal fate of the adopter and the adopted person.A small number of powerful people use nominal adoption as a means Make friends with each other,and then have a certain impact on the political situation.